You probably do not remember me. You were my third grade teacher. I only had one third grade teacher, but you must surely have taught a million kids in your career, and I was just one of them. I remember you drove all the way from Pepin, Wisconsin to Lake City, Minnesota just to teach us every single day.

I wonder if you remember something you said to me forty four years ago… You said, “Natalie, when you get your first book written and published, please send me a copy of it.” You liked my writing, and that meant a lot to me.

For awhile in your class I wrote a classroom magazine called “The Book of Everything”. It had funny pictures, puzzles and games, cool ideas, and some fiction stories as well. I designed it and wrote it, and I showed it to you. You showed it to the class, and the other kids read “The Book of Everything” when they had some free time.

Mrs. Biles, I haven’t written a real book yet, but I think about it all the time. While I’m waiting to do that project, I’ve been writing some funny stories about people I know and the adventures we have in our lives.

If you are reading this, please be patient with my delay in getting published. Thanks so much for believing in me and giving me your gift of encouragement. I have never forgotten you, Mrs. Biles!

I love it! Wouldn’t Mrs. Biles be proud of you! You have the talent for a book, so one day the inspiration you have obviously felt for a long time will bloom into something special. This was a delight to read! Debra